No French major, and journalism, geography and horticulture, will all be "redesigned." Kentucky public higher education is going through a world of hurt. The flagships will be ok but the regionals are suffering. From The Lexington Herald Leader.

EKU cuts French major, but journalism, geography get to stay
EKU faced a $13 million shortfall earlier this year. Through these programmatic and other cuts, including significant changes to employee health insurance, the school has trimmed the deficit to about $2 million.
Health insurance costs are increasing 400 percent for employees, faculty member John Fitch said.
There are at least 44 fewer administrative jobs, both from empty positions and layoffs. But faculty still feel that academics are bearing the brunt of the financial pain.

2017 Annual Conference October 19-21 Raleigh, NC
The Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs is the professional organization of academic programs providing graduate interdisciplinary education in the liberal arts and sciences for working adults. The Association provides a forum for the exchange of information and ideas among the administrators of programs granting degrees such as Master of Liberal Arts, Master of Liberal Studies and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, among others, and to programs with related curricula and goals. The AGLSP promotes the core concepts and goals of Graduate Liberal Studies, fosters high standards in GLS programs, provides guidance for institutions considering initiating and improving such programs, and promotes public awareness of the programs.

ANTSHE Conference 2017
Kennesaw State University, Georgia
March 23 - March 25, 2017
The Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education (ANTSHE) invites academic professionals, administrators and nontraditional students/ leaders to submit proposals for presentations at the 2017 conference. The call for proposals will remain open until February 5, 2017. All proposals will be reviewed and individuals chosen to present will be contacted within 30 days of submission.

This year's conference theme is: "Addressing the Identity Crisis: Realizing the Value in Non-Traditional Learners in Adult Programs and Initiatives...Mentoring and Mapping Their Needs for 21st Century Success" The following primary tracks have been identified and each primary track has been broken down into the sub segments listed below.

Only one local candidate, something of a surprise to me. From The Tennessean. Candidates to lead college system make their cases
Candidates vying to lead the Tennessee Board of Regents visited Nashville this week to offer three distinct visions for the state's network of community and technical colleges.
Each candidate was in town Tuesday and Wednesday to interview for the position of chancellor, a process that included conversations with Gov. Bill Haslam, college leaders and students. The Board of Regents is expected to decide which candidate to hire later this month.
The candidate they select will play a leading role in reshaping the college system next year after the departure of six Board of Regents universities, including Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University, which are getting their own boards. Some concepts were consistent across meetings between the candidates and Board of Regents staffers Tuesday, but each candidate discussed different prioritie…

Administrative snakes. Maybe I can get in put on a tee shirt. A brief overview that blames the administration for poor faculty and sensitive students. From The Pacific Standard.

The Real Villains of Higher Education: Students and professors can’t be real co-workers until they snatch power back from university administrators.
The system as it exists is set up to the advantage of the litigious and the tattletales, the tyrannical and the petty. Most people involved will agree that it sucks, but trying to change the university from the inside means countless meetings with administrative snakes, not to mention all the career risks. Better to keep your head down and get along, just like those of us in that bad international law class. Only by struggling for and securing institutional power will students and professors — together, scholars — be able to address their conflicts in a way that’s conducive to learning rather than litigation.
One initial step might be strengthening student and pr…

Grandma-style. A program to train adults to work in day care centers in Colorado, from The Atlantic. Equipping Grandmas With Childcare Credentials
On a recent morning, 15 women gathered in a mint-green classroom at First Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado, to learn more about the fundamentals of childcare. They talked about mapping out daily schedules with time for reading activities, group play, meals, and naps. They traded tips about the inexpensive educational materials available at Dollar Tree stores.
But this was no Saturday-morning babysitting boot camp. It was part of a 120-hour training course that will eventually earn participants a national childcare credential.

What made the class unique was the women enrolled. Ranging in age from 20-something to 60-something, they were Spanish-speaking mothers, aunts, and grandmas who care for the young children of friends and relatives in their homes. Some do it for free. Others earn a small wage.
Most are undocumented immigrants and,…

Sponsored by the Online Journal of Distance Learning
Administration and the University of West Georgia
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SCOPE:
The Distance Learning Administration Conference focuses on the administration
and management of distance learning. The conference specifically addresses the
needs of those who plan, manage and support distance education activities.

STRANDS:
The Planning Committee of Distance Learning Administration 2017 invites
proposals from the introductory through advanced level on all topics related to
the management and administration of distance learning.

​Nominations are open for the American Council on Education's Student of the Year Award, which honors adult learners who show qualities such as perseverance, the capacity to overcome great odds and the ability to inspire others to set high lifelong learning goals.

Anyone who teaches, works with or knows of eligible adult learners can submit the names of worthy individuals by using the form on ACE’s website. The winner will be recognized at ACE2017, ACE’s 99th Annual Meeting, to be held in Washington, DC, March 11-14, 2017. Adult learners also can nominate themselves, as long as they also can submit a nominating organization and statement of support.

The Student of the Year Award is presented annually by ACE to an individual who has benefited academically or professionally from the use of ACE credit recommendations for workforce or military training. Recipients must demonstrate outstanding achievements in their community or workplace while successfully balancing demands such as fam…